By Craig Covault, on May 2nd, 2017
Liftoff of NROL-76 from pad 39A, the first SpaceX launch of a National Reconnaissance Office payload. Photo Credit: John Studwell / AmericaSpace
On May 1 at 7:15 a.m EDT, SpaceX and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) launched the NROL 76 spacecraft on a 58 deg. trajectory up the U.S. east coast, flying atop […]
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By Craig Covault, on January 17th, 2017
A ULA Atlas V rocket launching SBIRS GEO 2. Photo Credit: John Studwell / AmericaSpace
As U.S./Russian intelligence controversies swirl between the two countries, a team of Russian rocket technicians will be at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Jan. 19 to monitor real-time engine data from a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas-V […]
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By Craig Covault, on May 22nd, 2016
DIA briefings arranged by Gen. “Davy” Jones as part of Aviation Week’s deal not to publish KH-11 details revealed the Soviets had begun development of a space shuttle that ultimately flew only once—unmanned— in November 1988. Credit: Energia
Editor’s note: This month Aviation Week and Space Technology magazine, where our U.S. […]
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By Craig Covault, on February 10th, 2016
A top secret 8-ton National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)/Boeing Topaz imaging radar satellite was successfully launched into a retrograde polar orbit before dawn Feb. 10 from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., atop a ULA Delta-IV Medium. Mission NROL-45. Photo Credit: Robert Fisher / AmericaSpace
A top secret, 8-ton National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)/Boeing Topaz imaging radar satellite […]
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By Craig Covault, on February 8th, 2016
ULA is set to launch NROL45 on a Delta-IV from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 3:39 a.m. PST Feb. 10. The mission will deliver the NRO/Boeing Topaz imaging radar reconnaissance satellite to orbit. Image Credit: ULA
A top secret, 8-ton National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)/Boeing Topaz imaging radar reconnaissance satellite is poised for […]
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By Craig Covault, on February 3rd, 2016
Propelled by its three “cores,” the Falcon Heavy is expected to make its maiden voyage in fall 2016. This behemoth will cement its credentials as the most powerful rocket in current operational status, overtaking the Delta IV Heavy. Image Credit: SpaceX
The planned Feb. 5 launch of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas-V […]
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By Craig Covault, on December 18th, 2015
Twin nozzle RD-180 engines, which power ULA’s Atlas-V rocket and many of the nation’s national security payloads into space, await shipment to the U.S. from Energomash in Khimky Russia. Photo Credit: Energomash
In a major military space policy shift, United Launch Alliance (ULA) will be allowed to procure more Russian RD-180 engines for […]
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By Craig Covault, on December 11th, 2015
A ULA Atlas-V rocket, powered by a Russian RD-180 engine, lofts Orbital ATK’s Cygnus cargo freighter to the International Space Station Dec 6, 2015. ULA and Raytheon were pummeled by Sen. McCain and USAF Gen. Hyten this week over poor Atlas-V judgement and GPS-III ground segment performance. Photo Credit: Mike Killian / AmericaSpace
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By Mike Killian, on December 4th, 2015
File photo of the U.S. Navy’s MUOS-4 satellite, which this week completed on-orbit testing and was officially accepted by the Navy to go operational next spring. Photo Credit: Lockheed Martin
The fourth in a Lockheed Martin-built five-ship fleet for a next-generation, narrowband tactical military satellite communications system was officially accepted by the U.S. […]
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By Craig Covault, on November 17th, 2015
A United Launch Alliance Atlas-V rocket launching with the U.S. Air Force GPS 2F-11 satellite Oct. 31, 2015. The USAF believes that ULA had options that would have allowed it to bid on the initial GPS III launch in 2018, but given ULA’s RD-180 engine supply, the company decided instead to cede that […]
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